Zoya Akhtar recalled the harsh criticism she received at a focus group screening for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
It’s a norm in the industry for filmmakers and producers to host a special screening for their film for their near and dear ones before it hits the marquee. However over the years, this practice has become a tad professional, with proper focus groups being invited to give a feedback on the movie.
In a recent interaction with The Hollywood Reporter, Zoya Akhtar confided that she hates this process as these focus groups can be quite ruthless at times. She then went on to recall one such focus screening that she had for her 2011 film, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD).The filmmaker shared that one of the invitees thrashed the film left, right and centre, and told her that she had made a ‘rubbish’ film.
Zoya said, “I have been shouted at once in a focus group. I have stopped going to those screenings now. There was this uncle, he was the producer’s father’s friend. It was the focus screening for ZNMD. He went like, ‘This is a rubbish movie, What is going on? What are they doing? They are driving? I was like, ‘Sir, this movie is not for you. Because I cannot do anything to make this movie for you.”
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She continued, “And its not for him. Luckily for me, there were some kids in their 20s, who were like, ‘We liked it, we connected with it.’ So, then they started fighting, so I kind of got away.”
Karan Johar, who was also a part of the same conversation, recalled another incident from the same screening where someone complained to Zoya that ZNMD had too many travel shots. That same person during the screening of Gully Boy, told Zoya that there was too much rapping in that film. KJo too confessed that he has stopped going to focus group screenings.
Zindagi Na Milegi Na Dobara revolves around three old friends who reunite for a bachelor’s party trip before one of them gets hitched. The trip in turn, ends up changing their perception about life. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol and Kalki Koechlin, the film was a smashing hit with rave reviews, and has achieved a cult status over the years for its relatable theme.
